Mercy, Peace, and Love

May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. - Jude 2

In the second sentence of his letter, Jude offered three "gifts" to his readers: mercy, peace, and love.

Why these three?

Mercy of and from God is necessary for personal salvation. Without it a person is condemned forever.

Peace from and with God is necessary for the strength and courage to keep going when we find ourselves in the midst of difficulty and strife.

Love of and from God is necessary to the sure knowledge and hope of a future with God in heaven. If God loves us then we know that everything is working together for our good, even if the times are filled with trial, affliction, and tribulation.

How should we then pray? Pray that God's mercy, peace, and love would abound all.

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! - Jesus (Matthew 7:11, LSB)